Monday, January 31, 2011

This week 14,709 cards were mailed out - at a cost of $570! All our shippers' shelves are getting really bare; after the Valentine's push, things are coming in slowly. We appreciate your efforts to keep on making cards through this chilly month!

To heroes in Afghanistan:
340 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Air Force unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Contractor unit
340 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Iraq:
340 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Air Force unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Contractor unit
340 cards to an Army unit

To heroes at sea:
340 cards to a Navy unit

To heroes in Kuwait:
250 cards to an USO unit
340 cards to an National Guard unit
330 cards to an Civilian Contractor unit

Other fun statistics:
Number of boxes sent: 2656
Number of hero contacts: 1135
Total cards sent: 820,337

Huge thanks to CK for supporting OWH in not only great PR, but for inviting so many folks at CKCs nationwide to make cards for our heroes during their events! We periodically receive large boxes full of them - and we know our contacts just love them all :)

Monday, January 24, 2011

Eeeep. No cards to report mailed this week! We do have some boxes packed after this weekend to mail out, but....we slowed down on incoming cards a lot last week. (Less than 900 came in to WA, come on west coast, I'm cheering for ya!) However, this gives me a chance to update you on a couple things.

ANNUAL REVIEW

We'll be publishing the Annual Review on February 1st, so please stay tuned!

RECEIPTS

We have now emailed out all the receipts; we had to do it over the course of days since our system limits us. But they're done! Our data transfer to the new system is showing up some hitches in our giddyup - so please see if you're in any of these categories and get us corrected info:

If you did NOT get a receipt:
That either means your email address is incorrect in our system, or you did not provide an email address or packing slip when you sent in your cards. If the latter is the case, we sometimes can get your name and address off the package itself, but sometimes that also isn't possible; please detail what quantity of cards was in your package when you mail in your information. (It's also possible something just totally goofed up in the system!) Email info@operationwritehome.org.

If your contact info was wrong:
Some of the addresses in our system are old ones, so please get us the corrected address. We can re-send the corrected receipt. Email info@operationwritehome.org.

If you got TWO year-end receipts:
That means we have you listed twice in our system somehow. We'd like to combine your accounts in our system, and we can send a new combined receipt to you. Email info@operationwritehome.org.

If the number of cards was lower than your records:
Let us know what that number should have been; we'll try to see if there are multiple accounts for you. Sometimes if you didn't include a packing slip with the quantity listed, we ballparked a guess at the total, since our shippers often run short of time to do that part. Email info@operationwritehome.org.

If the number of cards was higher than your records:
Relax, you were more productive than you thought you were! lol. Actually, we can correct those, but we'll have plenty of other corrections to make, so if you don't need a corrected lowered receipt, use the one you have, thanks.

And while we appreciate your gratitude, don't feel the need to reply to the receipt email - I get 2 emailed copy of every receipt, so my inbox is drowning. LOL. Yeah, the system causes lots of positives but also some, uhm, interesting things! Thank you again so much for allllllll your cards last year!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

This week we received 5,610 cards, a slow week in OWH0-land...that takes our total for January to 27,910...we're aiming for 52,000, so we're counting the rest of the month being pretty crazy at our shippers' mailboxes! :)

Stampin' and tuckin' on Martin Luther King Day - National Day of Service!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

By popular demand...we've got a great partnership to announce to you today!

For some time now, we've had our small rubberstamps with Operation Write Home® on them made by a great company in Florida, Picture My Stamp (Rubber Stamp Manufacturing Services) - and the company owner, Susan Janicki, is thrilled to be working alongside us in a deeper partnership on her other site, StampersBest.com (Deep Etch Rubber Stamps and Cling Cushion Mounting Foam). "It is so exciting to be helping with Operation Write Home," said Susan. "I look forward to assisting OWH cardmakers in their efforts of making life more pleasant for our military heroes and their families."

Now available at Stampers Best: three designs are available with the OWH logo - and YOUR name - in real live deep etched red rubber!Many of you have wished you had a custom stamp to use with other inks - so you can stamp on different colors and papers with the appropriate inks. Delivery time on these will be a few weeks since they'll wait for a few orders to gang up together, but the stamps will be worth the wait! These cost $12 each and come with options - add a few dollars for cling mount, or a block, or a duplicate stamp in case you lose one :) They're available now for purchase at StampersBest.com. Be sure to leave them a big 'thank you' when you place your order! And read on below to hear more of Susan's heart for our heroes.

When asked what the company's motivation is for helping OWH stampers in our work, Susan said, "My family is grateful for the sacrifices and protections of the US military. I am the daughter of Polish immigrants who fled communist persecution for democracy. Being born and raised in the USA has provided me the freedom and security to pursue my life's dreams. I strongly believe that our armed forces keep my family and our country safe, and allows global markets to remain open for all to prosper."

She continued, "I started my rubber stamp business in '03 while working my day job as a police dispatcher for the county sheriff's office. I pursued both endeavors until my company flourished enough to allow me to work at it full time. Eight years later, my business continues to grow steadily by servicing customers worldwide. I am proud to say that I own a US-based manufacturing company that employs production staff, graphic designers and artists."

Susan has graciously offered to continue supplying us with the freebie stamps we've been giving away, in order to help us to help YOU help your shipper. We want you to be able to stamp the backs of your cards, so our shippers can focus on shipping and not triage! :) We are thrilled to be working with Susan and her team to keep this option for a free (non-custom) stamp available!

"The amazing power of the internet enables me to meet a lot of new people," said Susan, "and I am inspired by all who share the American entrepreneurial spirit. I know that part of my good fortune and prosperity is directly attributed to the brave men and women serving our country in the military and those who support them."

We're also working on another exciting idea with Susan that we'll launch soon, so stay tuned!

On today's tutorial on the Stars and Stamps blog, you'll see how you can add cling foam to your own stamp - you may wish to order some while you're ordering your custom rubberstamp!

Monday, January 17, 2011

The calendar (the single page version) that was posted here had an oops in it - the proper pdf is now posted at the same link, or you can get it by clicking on the image above. Thanks, Esther, for finding the goofup! It also reminded me to post it on the website - if you need to find either version of the calendar again, simply go to the Deadlines page :)

To heroes in Afghanistan:
355 cards to a Navy unit
355 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to a National Guard unit
355 cards to a Navy unit
355 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to an Air Force unit
355 cards to a contractor unit
345 cards to a Navy unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to a National Guard unit
350 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to a contractor unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to a Navy unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to a Marine unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to a Marine unit
334 cards to an Air Force unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Civilian Contractor unit
334 cards to an Air Force unit
358 cards to a Red Cross unit

To heroes in Iraq:
355 cards to a Navy unit
355 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to a National Guard unit
355 cards to a Navy unit
355 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to a Air Force unit
355 cards to an Other unit
345 cards to a Navy unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to a National Guard unit
350 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to a contractor unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to a Navy unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to a Marine unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to an Marines unit
334 cards to an Air Force unit
334 cards to an Army unit
334 cards to a contractor unit
334 cards to an Air Force unit

To heroes in Qatar:
340 cards to an Air Force unit
334 cards to a mixed unit

To heroes in Kuwait:
345 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to a Navy unit
358 cards to an American Red Cross unit
334 cards to an Army unit

Other fun statistics:
Number of boxes sent: 2,612
Number of hero contacts: 1,128
Total cards sent: 804,637

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Many of you are working on your taxes right now - and we're working on getting the receipts for your 2010 donations emailed out, starting this week!

We've got a whole new system, so we have to do the mass email in a particular way: we're only allowed 250 receipt emails per day (so your computers and ours don't think we're spambots!)....so starting later this week, after our board meeting, we'll be sending out 250 each day.

You'll receive a summary of all of 2010 in one email - your cards and AnyHero letters as one number, and total financial donations.

It's up to you to work with your tax advisor as to what and how to deduct the value of the cards from your taxes. (The value is not up to OWH, either, we just provide you with the quantity.)

Note that if you have not provided us with an email address, or your email has changed, you may not be receiving an email receipt. We'll post a notice here once the receipts have all gone out - if you don't get anything by then, you'll be able to email us with a corrected address and we'll get that done for you quickly too!

This afternoon, those who have sent cards in January 2011 are getting receipt emails for donations so far this year; once those are caught up, you will be receiving an emailed receipt, rather than the email from your shipper notifying you of your package's arrival. It'll save us so much time to both provide your receipt AND let you know your cards are here, all in one email!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Like us! Many of you already do on Facebook...you're our wonderful fan page fans!

Like us! Once you're on Facebook, click that "like" button for the things you like. The way Facebook works, they recommend sites to people who are interested in that topic; the more popular our posts are, and the more interaction (photos and chatter) you post on our page, the more Facebook recommends us to others who also post about cardmaking - for free!

Like us! We've added "Like" buttons to our blogs, and will soon be adding them to our site as well...click "Like" on those too! Leave comments as well....the more likes and comments we have, the higher we appear on Google's page when someone searches for anything about cards and cardmaking. After you click like, you can leave a comment - that'll post it on your fb WITH a comment from you!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

14,963 cards were received this week - WOW! Stunning numbers...thank you for making sure all our heroes got boxes for Valentines Day! The hero mail is an awesome thing too - keep it coming! Kris is particularly short on it - so if you have a pack of AnyHero mail only ready to go and can redirect to her, that'd be super!

Albertine L, Lafayette, LA

Allison G, Ft Worth, TX

Allyson G, Fort Worth, TX

Anita A, Turlock, CA

Ann D, Minneapolis, MN

Ann W, Magalia, CA

Audra H, Richmond, TX

Barb J, Kent, WA

Barb L, Fairfax, MO

Barbara B, Amsterdam, NY

Barbara M, Bellflower, CA

Becky F, N Highlands, CA

Bev R, Brooklyn Center, MN

Bev T and Tavern Scrappers, Burgess, VA

Bonnie M and Family Court of St Louis County, Clayton, MO

Cara S, Phoenix, AZ

Carol O, Phoenix, AZ

Carolyn C, Wayzata, MN

Cathie C, Webster, NY

Cathy W, Elbert, CO

Charlsie S, Napa, CA

Chris F, Monument, CO

Chris M, Newport, WA

Christine F, Leominster, MA

Cindy E, El Cajon, CA

Cindy K and Scrapdragons, Indianpolis, IN

Clearfield Aquatic Center , Clearfield, UT

Dana M, Blythewood, SC

Dawn C and Orange County Dept of Education, Costa Mesa, CA

Dawn L, Ocala, FL

Debbie G, Versailles, OH

Debbie T, Post Falls, ID

Debby B and Girl Scouts, Vienna, VA

Deborah D and Gymnastics Divine Inc, Dixon, IL

Denise B and Stamp Club, Cape May, Cape May Court House, NJ

Denise L, Arroyo Grande, CA

Donna S and Lake Church of Christ, Painesville, OH

Dorothy M, Burbank, CA

Elaine H, Keene, NH

Ellyn Y, Mobile, AL

Emily F and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Eldorado Ward, Scottsdale, AZ

Monday, January 10, 2011

We're so grateful to everyone for coming through with cards at the last minute - we had some concerns about whether or not we'd have cards for all our units, but it appears we will - hooah!!

Please be sure to check out the note on yesterday's post about spring cards so we can keep the boxes going out through the spring seasons!

Without futher ado, here's the list of locations our boxes were sent out to in this first week of 2011!

To heroes in Afghanistan:
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Air Force unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to a Navy unit
345 cards to a Navy unit
345 cards to a Navy unit
345 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to a Navy unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Air Force unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Iraq:
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to a Civilian Contractor unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
345 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Kuwait:
345 cards to a Navy unit

Other fun statistics:
Number of boxes sent: 2,555
Number of hero contacts: 1,111
Total cards sent: 785,121

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Now that we're past the Valentines - we need to turn our brains toward the next seasons! Two very important reminders:

If you're making a lot of cards for any season, remember to get your cards in TWO WEEKS BEFORE these posted deadlines; sending a couple hundred cards right at the deadline really makes it nearly impossible to get your cards mixed in the last couple boxes!

Making "general" cards that can also be used for a holiday are the MOST useful to our heroes. We got lots of "love" cards as well as ones that specifically said "Happy Valentines Day" --- that helps a lot when we don't know how many heroes will be sharing a box.....they can use the general love cards, but don't have to write them all out before V-Day. So - "Lucky to have you" and "Some bunny loves you" are great sentiments for spring!

St Patricks - due Feb 10
Though we do send out St Patty's Day cards, we send a lot less than we do for Valentines and Christmas - we've never gotten one request for St Pat's cards, and we've gotten some surprised comments like, "Wow you even send St Pattys cards!" So - the need is NOT as big for these as for other holidays.

You may still make St Patty's cards, but if you would have to go buy new stuff to make them, we'd love to save you the expense and ask for you to focus on our general cards - thinking of you, birthday, missing you, love, thanks, and no-sentiment. We need LOTS of these, and your help in getting those for us would be awesome!ADDITIONAL NOTE: It's hard to avoid with St Patricks Day cards, but do NOT send cards with alcohol references. These cards are being sent to contexts where local laws do not allow drinking, and though these cards are in the hands of Americans, we do not wish to offend any of the locals they work with - nor encourage our own heroes thinking about things they can't have while deployed.

Easter - due March 18
Bunnies and chicks, as well as religious cards are welcome. You can also make "spring" sentiments for those who don't celebrate Easter!

Mother's Day - due March 31
It's not too early to start thinking about Mom and Dad cards! Consider sending in a half dozen of these while sending in your other spring cards, just to get our stash built up for the first Moms Day boxes! Also - if you can separate your cards out so that the ones that say "Happy Mother's Day" are separate from the ones that say "Love you Mom", that helps us be able to get the Mother's Day cards targeted to mail first, and fill in with the general ones!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Welcome to our first Thankful Thursday report of 2011!! A little someone is grateful to be back to "normal" after some slow months...this week our shippers received and processed 8502 cards! Many thanks to all these wonderful donors of cards and funds this week:

To heroes in Afghanistan:
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
340 cards to an Army unit
341 cards to an Army unit
346 cards to an National Guard unit
346 cards to an Army unit
346 cards to an Army unit
346 cards to a Marine unit
346 cards to an Army unit
242 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Air Force unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to a Navy unit
355 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Iraq:
340 cards to an Air Force unit
341 cards to an Army unit
341 cards to an Army unit
346 cards to an Army unit
346 cards to an Army unit
346 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Air Force unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to a National Guard unit
350 cards to a National Guard unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to an Army unit

To heroes at sea:
350 cards to a Navy unit

To heroes in Kuwait:
346 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Qatar:
346 cards to an Air Force unit

Other fun statistics:
Number of boxes sent: 2,529
Number of hero contacts: 1,109
Total cards sent: 776,061